In an experiment, which variable is intentionally changed by the researcher?

In an experiment, which variable is intentionally changed by the researcher?

• A. Independent Variable
• B. Dependent Variable
• C. Control
• D. Law

Answer: (A)

In an experiment, you deliberately change something to see what effect it has. That thing you change on purpose is the independent variable. By adjusting it and then measuring what happens to another factor, you’re testing cause and effect. The thing you measure—the outcome—depends on that change and is called the dependent variable. To make the test fair, all other factors are kept the same as controls, so any difference in the outcome can be linked to the change in the independent variable. A law isn’t something you manipulate in an experiment; it’s a broad statement about how nature behaves. For example, if you test how different amounts of sunlight affect plant growth, the amount of sunlight is the independent variable, and the plant height you measure is the dependent variable.

In an experiment, you deliberately change something to see what effect it has. That thing you change on purpose is the independent variable. By adjusting it and then measuring what happens to another factor, you’re testing cause and effect. The thing you measure—the outcome—depends on that change and is called the dependent variable. To make the test fair, all other factors are kept the same as controls, so any difference in the outcome can be linked to the change in the independent variable. A law isn’t something you manipulate in an experiment; it’s a broad statement about how nature behaves. For example, if you test how different amounts of sunlight affect plant growth, the amount of sunlight is the independent variable, and the plant height you measure is the dependent variable.